Here’s What Drought Does to Your Garden

We all know that high temperatures and drought can do some serious damage to our vegetable gardens, and this summers’ weather is no exception.  Here are some effects you may observe on your vegetables:

Tomatoes: They may become sunburnt in high temperatures and humidity which causes the bottom end to rot because the fruit expands too rapidly for the plant to evenly distribute calcium for growth. (Uneven watering causes this, as well.)

Squash: High temperatures cause the flower to close quickly, so unless bees pollinate the plant early in the morning, the flowers will fall of the plant.

Peppers: High temperatures stop fruit production all together on peppers and it decreases the leaf area.

Cucumbers: Heat and drought cause excess bitterness.

Green Beans: Beans have shallow root systems, so without water the bean plants will not produce fruit.

Sweet Corn: Corn is one of the most heat-tolerant vegetables, but the main concern for you should be to maintain water supply to the roots to ensure the ears develop fully.

So what can you do to save your garden in high temperatures and droughts? You can use a shade cloth, or even a light mist to cool the plants during the hot hours of the day.  But always, as suggested, drip systems work best to water your plants, avoid plant diseases, and conserve water.  Happy gardening!